Photo Courtesy Of AP
Five police officers have been charged with killing Black man Ronald Greene in a deadly Louisiana arrest.
According to the Associated Press, the five officers were charged on Dec. 15 with state crimes ranging from negligent homicide to malfeasance in the deadly 2019 arrest. They reportedly claimed that Greene died in a car crash at the end of a high-speed chase that day.
Despite their claim, however, an investigation by the outlet revealed graphic bodycam footage of the officers dragging and punching the victim. Their alleged actions left the then-shocked Greene bloodied after he led them on a high-speed chase.
“I’m your brother! I’m scared! I’m scared!” the victim was heard wailing in the video.
Master Trooper Kory York is facing the most serious charges, as he was seen dragging Greene by the handcuffs and placing his foot on the man’s back.
“Lay on your f*cking belly like I told you to,” York shouted at the victim.
York then left Greene face-down in the dirt for over nine minutes, which experts said may have restricted his breathing and allegedly caused his death. As a result of his actions, the Master Trooper was reportedly charged with negligent homicide as well as 10 counts of malfeasance in office.
Louisiana’s police force instructor described York’s actions “torture and murder.”
Another officer, Union Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Harpin, was charged with three counts of malfeasance in office. He was heard on the bodycam footage saying to Greene, “Sh*t hurts, doesn’t it?” Two other officers, Trooper Dakota DeMoss and Former LSP Troop F Captain John Peters were each charged with one count of obstruction of justice.
A fifth officer, Trooper John Clary, was additionally charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of malfeasance in office. The now-deceased man, who died in a 2020 crash, was heard saying, “I beat the ever-living f*ck out of you,” on camera.
Law enforcement officials reportedly refused to release the footage for two years until the U.S. Justice Department got involved in the investigation.